Over 120 Singapore jazz musicians in one epic photo

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s jazz heritage is captured in one photograph as over 120 musicians from the community gathered at the National Gallery Singapore in September for the momentous occasion.

An initiative by the Jazz Association (Singapore) (Jass), the commemorative group picture features several generations of artistes ranging from veterans such as Jeremy Monteiro, 64, to budding ones such as saxophonist Sean Hong Wei, 25.

It was shot on Sept 30 by local celebrity photographer Russel Wong.

Titled A Great Day In Singapore, it is a local recreation of A Great Day In Harlem. The famous 1958 photograph taken in New York features 57 jazz musicians, including American icons such as Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk.

Besides Monteiro, the Singapore photo includes two other trailblazers of the home-grown music scene – Louis Soliano, the 82-year-old nicknamed Singapore’s godfather of jazz, and singer Rahimah Rahim, 68. All three are recipients of the Cultural Medallion, the nation’s highest arts honour.

Also pictured are familiar names in the jazz scene, such as singer Alemay Fernandez, as well as young musicians from the Jazz Association Singapore Youth Orchestra.

Monteiro, the executive director and music director of Jass, says in a statement that the photo “celebrates the heart and talent of Singapore’s jazz scene”.

“This photo also marks the jazz heritage in Singapore, how deeply it is entrenched in our community, shaping our culture since 1930. We are proud to bring together some of our finest local jazz musicians for this iconic moment.”

Drummer Tamagoh, one of the members of the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra, who appears in the photo, adds: “It’s a tremendous honour to be featured in the A Great Day In Singapore photo. I hope this image inspires the continued cultivation of a stronger jazz culture in Singapore.”